Compound engine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. WILCOX.

COMPOUND ENGINE. No. 445,386. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTDH ATTUHNEY (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. WILGOX. COMPOUND ENGINE.

Patented Jan. 27,1891.

WITNESSES: J INVENTDB ATTORNEY w: mums rz-rzns cm, PHDTO-LITIKL.wnsumu'row, u. c.

(No Model.) 4 sneets -sheet 3.v S. WILGOX.

COMPOUND ENGINE.

No. 445,386. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

WITNESSES: f |NVENTDR ATTORNEY (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

S. WILGOX. COMPOUND ENGINE.

No. 445,386. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTUH (iamm JWNWW V ATTORNEY THE unnms vz-rza5 qo.,wow-mum, wAsnmmam n. c,

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

NITED STATES ATENT rricn.

COMPOUND ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,386, dated January27, 1891.

Application filed June 2 8 18 90- Be it known that I, STEPHEN VILCOX, acitizen of the United States, residing at the city of Brooklyn, countyof Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Compound Steam- Engines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in whichsimilar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout,and in which- Figure 1 is a general front elevation; Fig. 2, a planview; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation taken on the line so 9:, Figs. 2 andat; Fig. 4:, a horizontal section taken on the line ocw, Fig. 3; Fig. 5,a vertical sectional elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 3 on theline m 00 thereof, looking in the direction indicated by arrows; Fig. 6,a detail view showing in vertical section on the line 00 00 Fig. 3, oneof the low-pressure cylinders, the piston being removed; and Fig. 7, adetail view representing the steam chest and valves of the highpressurecylinder as they would appear taken in section on the line 50 Fig. 4.

This invention relates to compound engines for either land ormarinepurposes; and it consists in the embodiment in a triple or otherexpansion engine of a series of singleacting low-pressure cylindersaxially aligned with the double-acting high-pressure cylinders andhaving connected pistons which are connected to a single crank upon thedrivingshaft, the steam distributed to the series of cylinders inalignment being governed by the same valve gear.

I have illustrated herewith a triple-expansion engine as one appropriateembodiment of my invention, and of which 1 represents the high pressurccylinder, 2 the intcrn1ediate cylinder, and 3 3 two single-actingcylinders sharing equally the function of a third or low-pressurecylinder. The vertical space occupied by the low prcssure cylinders 3S'is substan tially equal to that usually occupied by the cross-headsand guides, the aggregate height of the engine being thus normal orcorresponding to that of the ordinary construction referred to, whilesuch amount of horizontal or shaft length of the engine as correspondsto the diameter of the low-pressure cylinder, combined with thereceiving Serial No. 357,065. (No model.)

chamber from whence its steam is supplied,

when located on a common level with the other cylinders, is dispensedwith, rendering the engine very compact and self-contained. Theeccentrics 11 12 are each controlled by a governor 13, the same havingany construction such as that well known to the art, and not requiringdetailed description here.

The cylinders 3 3 compose a part of the frame of the machine, supportingthe cylinders 1 2 above them. By this feature of location of thecylinders 3 3 the center of gravity of the structure as a whole islowered and an increased length of the connecting-rods 2O permittedwithout rendering the engine top-heavy. The upper cylinders 1 2 aresupported solely by the necks 14E fitting the flanges 16 of thelow-pressure cylinders, (and the cylinders 1 2 are also braced partiallyby the branched pipe 15;) but such upper cylinders 1 2 may beadditionally supported by suitable frames or braces in situations wherenecessary.

The frame 4 and its base 5 supporting the machine is of coursesusceptible of various construction, according to circumstances ofsituation, whether upon a stationary foundation or within a marinevessel. An inclosed or box form of supporting-frame is herewithillustrated as one form of construction suit able to a stationaryengine.

The shaft 6 is supported in bearings 7 in the base 5, and the cranks 8 Sare fixed at the usual angle of ninety degrees with reference to oneanother about the axis of the shaft.

The pistons 21 22 of each of the upper and lower cylinders,respectively, are connected by piston-mods 23 passing through suitablepackings l-l in the supportingnccks 1i, and the bearing-surfaces of thesingle-acting pistons 22 are elongated sufficiently to afford a properresisting wear against the side-thrust of the connecting-rods 20,connected thereto.

25 26 are balanced piston-valves for the highpressure cylinders 1 and 2,respectively, the induction side being between such pistons and theeduction at the opposite or exterior ends thereof, the reciprocation ofeach being imparted by the respective eccentrics ll 12 and their rods28, through sliding bars 27. The piston-valve 26 is employed induplicatc, as seen in plain view in Fig. l, for the purpose of dulyenlarging the capacity thereof, and the two valve-stems are connected bya yoke 35, Fig. 3, upon the upper end of the slide 27, thereby operatingin unison.

v 30 are the induction and 31 the cduction valves of the Corliss typeforthelow-pressurc cylinders 3, both operated from wristplates 32,common to each, which wrist-plates are also driven by the eccentrics 1 112 through the rods 28 of the latter andthe connecting- -rods 33.

The combined receiving-chambcrs9 10, the structure whereof unites theupper part of the machine, includes two separators 40 41 for eliminatingcondensed portions of steam during its transmission from one to anotherof the successive cylinders, suitable drip or discharge valves beingprovided for removing the accumulated water in the wells of theseparators. I concentrate the receivingchambers 9 and 10, Fig. 4, of theprimary and intermediate cylinders 1 2, respectively, into onestructure, separating the said cylinders only sufticiently to leaveconvenient space for also concentrating all the parts of the valve-gearbelow such chambers J 10, and between the cylinders.

The arrangement of the receivers, separators, valves, and valve-gearherein referred to whereby the particular space is utilized to containthese parts and the structure thereby rendered more compact is not of myinvention, and I hereby disclaim the same, such subject-matter being theinvention of August A. Goubert, and is claimed by him in an application,for a patent filed simultaneously herewith. I will, however, hereindescribe, briefly, the structure of the receivers and the course of thesteam therein sufficiently to make clear the co-operative relationbetween theother parts of the machine forming the subject of myinvention.

50 is the initial-pressure steam-pipe connectingtothe induction-sideOOof the valve 25, the steam being distributed to the cylinder 1 throughthe ports 52. The partly-expanded steam from the cylinder 1, issuingfrom the eduction sides of the valve 25, is delivered through thepassages 53 to the opening 54 of the first separator 40, the currentfrom the lower passage 53 passing upward through the conduit 55. Thecurrent of steam thence enters tangentially the space between the innerand outer concentric pipes of the separator40, being directed by theinclined bridge 56, Fig. 3, following a spiral downward course, thewater separatin g centrifugally. The drysteam current then returnsupwardly through the inner concentric pipe, and is transferred throughthe goose-necked pipe 57 into the first receiving-chamber 9. From thereceivingchamber 9 the steam is then admitted to the induction side 60of the valves 26 and distributed to the ports 59 of the intermediatecylinder 2, the connecting-passage 58, Fig. 3, effecting communicationin the direction indicated by the arrow 58 in Fig. i. The furtherexpanded steam delivered from the eduction sides of the valves 26,through the passages 61, is conducted to the common opening 62, thecurrent from the lower passage 61 passing upward through the conduit(53. The current of steam is thence admitted tangentially betweentheinner and outer concentric pipes of the separator ail, as beforedescribed with reference to the first separator, a downward spiralcourse being followed and a subsequent upper course through the innerconcentric pipe and goose-necked pipe 6i delivers the steam into thesecond receivingchamber 10. From the receiving-chamber 10 the steam isconducted through the bifurcated pipe 15 and distributed to the twosingle-acting cylinders 3 3' by theinduction-valves 30, and subsequentlyexhausted through the eduction-valves 31 to the condenser or atmosphere.

are automatic relief-valves (see Fig. 7) capable of opening toward thepressure on the induction side of the cylinder-valves to re lieve thepressure of cushioning-compresslon when the same exceeds the initialpressure such as contained on said induction side. The valves 70 are ofthe cheek-valve type, seated against openings from the ports 52 or 50,and discharge the steam into the steamchamber 60 instead of awaste-passage, (said valves being applied to both cylinders l and 2,)and to the above purposes they control communication of said ports withthe steamchests 60 or 60. The valves 70 are retained upon their seats bysuitable springs, such as usual to check-valves, and they are therebyretained in a closed position before pressure is applied in starting theengine.

In the operation of my invention the two single-acting low-pressurecylinders share equally the expanded steam from the receiver 10 of theintermediate cylinder and co-operate with the same motive effect aswould be derived from one double-aoting low-pressure cylinder located inthe usual lateral conjunction with the other cylinders. In order tocounteract the effect of the impulses of the low-pressure cylinders thatare concentrated in the downward stroke, a greater degree ofcushioning-compression may be employed in the lower ends than in theupper ends of the cylinders 1 2 by a proper adjustment of the valves.The cranks 8 8 are not, however, essentially placed at a right angle toone another about the axis of the shaft. They may be placed at ahalf-circle apart, or substantially opposite, as commonly practicedheretofore in compound engines, distributing the said impulses at equalintervals in the rotation of the shaft.

Having thus fully described my invention, what Iclaim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A compound engine having an interme diate receiver, consisting of adouble-acting higlrpressure cylinder and a single-acting toolow-pressure cylinder located adjacent to and in alignment with saidhigh-pressure cylinder, andhaving connected pistons which are connectedto a single crank, and provided with a single valve-gear that governsthe distribution of steam in the respective cylinders, substantially inthe manner described.

2. The combination, in a compound receiver-engine, of two or moredouble-acting cylinders located in lateral relation, single-actingcylinders arranged in common axial alignment severally therewith,provided with con- 4 nected pistons within the commonly-alignedcylinders, their shaft crank connecting rods being severallypivoted'npon and guided by the single-acting pistons, and avalve-gearing that governs the distribution of steam in saidcommonly-aligned cylinders.

8. The combination, in a compound receiver-engine, of a double-actinghigh-pressure and intermediate cylinder located in lateral relation,single-acting low-pressure cylinders severally located in common axialalignment with said high and intermediate pressure cylinders, connectedpistons in the aligned cylinders, and steam-distributing valves andsuccessive passages for the same, delivering the steam first to the saiddouble-acting cylinders in series consecutively and then to thedistributing-valves of the single-acting cylinders, the respectivesiipply-passages of the latter being connected in common.

&. The combination, in a compound engine, of a double-acting high-pressure cylinder and receiver, a double-acting intermediate cylinderand receiver located in lateral relation to the high-pressure cylinder,and single-acting low-pressure cylinders severally aligned with the saidhigh and intermediate pressure cylinders, having pistons connected incommon therewith, as described, and having the induction side of theirdistributing-valves connected in common with the final receiver of thesaid double-acting cylinders.

5. The combination, in a compound receiver-engine, of a double-actinghigh-pressure and intermediate cyl nder located in lateral relation,single-acting low-pressure cylinders axially aligned therewith,connected pistons in the aligned cylinders, reciprocatingsteamdistributing valves for the double-acting cylinders, androck-motion distributing-valves for the single-acting cylinders,together with connecting valve-gearing for operating all the valves ofthe respective aligned cylinders.

STEPHEN WILOOX Witnesses:

J. W. LAWSON, NAT. W. PRATT.

